503 - The Guy for This (Spoilers)
JoshuaHeter
Omaha, NE
Written by Ann Cherkis
Directed by Michael Morris
JoshuaHeter
Omaha, NE
Comments
Breaking Bad had its fair share of these too, but I’ve done more toe-tapping this (and last season) than I would’ve liked. BCS is still a very, very good show, and I still think it’s worthy of Breaking Bad, but I have to agree with Aron... if it had been 4 (or so) seasons as opposed to 6, it arguably could’ve reached that next level.
And everything Kim. Rhea Seehorn an early favorite for the 2020 Baldies. Loved the silent final scene.
Can't wait to hear the official podcast talking for 40 minutes about the ant cold open (seriously, I really can't!).
I think the two shows are actually very similar with the exception that element of danger is much more prevalent in the world of a chemistry teacher cooking meth rather than a con artist lawyer slowly devolving into corruption. Even the argument could be made that both shows are about men who's morality begins to corrode and they are in my opinion very similar in that way too.
Truth is the show's reputation largely rides on the coat tails of breaking bad and AMC knows this, they want to milk this thing for all it's worth for the advertising money. Breaking Bad did not have that luxury and struggled to get the support it needed for each additional season. Now since that stress has been lifted they have become a lot more lax about their story telling and it undoubtedly shows, regardless I think the shows are more similar than ways they are not and I don't think it's fair to be criticized for making the comparison in the first place.
They are set in the same universe. They follow many of the same characters. The overall arc of both shows in the same. Showing how (through a series of self-destructive decisions made by) the main character (Walt / Jimmy) takes on a much more morally compromised alter ego (Saul / Heisenberg).
I do think it’s fair to point out that BCS doesn’t need / shouldn’t be just identically parallel to BB. That said, I don’t think every criticism of BCS that draws a comparison to BB can be reduced to “Hey, this isn’t like BB!” BB was a mix of plot, character development, and lots of style. At many points, BCS takes those same elements but tweaks the formula - lots more style, less plot, etc. I still really love the show, I’d just say the new formula that BCS roles out isn’t exactly 99.1% pure like it can be.
We had an entire cold open this week that was all to drive home (what is, I think) a fairly obvious theme. Last week, we had an entire cold open devoted to a wild and crazy ride by two knuckleheads we don’t know or care about in order to point out that Jimmy’s 50% deal is encouraging bad behavior in potential clients... essentially highlighting that same theme.
And yeah, the scene where Kim just lays it out to him stone cold with a mic drop at the end was everything.
Yes! That was the other one I was trying (and failing) to come up with on the pod. He's still so good!